Confirmed with Link: Leafs sign F Ryan Reaves (3 years, $1.3M AAV)

[Gallagbi]

That’s just a silly exaggeration to make a tortured point.

It may be an exaggeration, but they been dominated and look our of sync. We could quote stats, but thats not going over well in this thread. Its pretty obvious theyre chasing though from the good old fashioned eye test

When you have a line with Reaves, you want them to wear down the other team and create havoc, ideally in the offensive zone. We havent seen that yet. They arent able to maintain possession, are scrambling in the defensive zone

 

[DarkKnight]

It may be an exaggeration, but they been dominated and look our of sync. We could quote stats, but thats not going over well in this thread. Its pretty obvious theyre chasing though from the good old fashioned eye test

When you have a line with Reaves, you want them to wear down the other team and create havoc, ideally in the offensive zone. We havent seen that yet. They arent able to maintain possession, are scrambling in the defensive zone

Keefe said they were the best line first game, nobody was claiming domination, until we can quantify bad goaltending as evidence of ”caved in”. I’m watching, I haven’t seen it, but I will say Kampf is the signing we should be talking about.

 

[Apex Predator]

I think the people that don’t want to acknowledge what Reaves brings are people that have never played sports or don’t work in a department with group of people. There’s more than stats when evaluating a team.

 

[Stephen]

Seems like a spot on take
Its less about Lafferty specifically for me and more about the role. Hes a 4th line specialist who will get limited minutes. Im having trouble quantifying success in those minutes though given what weve seen. I feel like the standard should be higher than getting caved in every shift.

I don’t disagree with you the standards should and could be higher - a 4th line with 6’5” mutants that can hit, fight, generate offense and never be cycled would be the gold standard…

But if we’re choosing the safe minutes of the past vs this Reaves experiment I’m willing to give this Reaves thing a chance.

 

[notdoneyet]

Hes definitely out of sorts, we saw the same last year when we started off the season with a forechecking line of NAK - Kampf - ZAR.

I like Gregor so far. Reaves is less capable than i expected and Kampf is a mess.

What do we do with kampf if he stays the problem on the fourth line
I’m sure the leafs are looking for a third line that can score to compliment the first two scoring lines. Kampf isn’t good enough offensively to work on a third line that is expected to create offense.
Package kampf and a B prospect along with a pick to try to get a physical dman

Kampf abruzuzee and a second as an example

 

[Gallagbi]

What do we do with kampf if he stays the problem on the fourth line
I’m sure the leafs are looking for a third line that can score to compliment the first two scoring lines. Kampf isn’t good enough offensively to work on a third line that is expected to create offense.
Package kampf and a B prospect along with a pick to try to get a physical dman

Kampf abruzuzee and a second as an example

I honestly dont know. Do you dump yoir primary PK C to get a better banger who can play ~8 min a night?

I don’t disagree with you the standards should and could be higher - a 4th line with 6’5” mutants that can hit, fight, generate offense and never be cycled would be the gold standard…

But if we’re choosing the safe minutes of the past vs this Reaves experiment I’m willing to give this Reaves thing a chance.

It feels like theres a balance though. Were clearly trying a 4th line that can bang. You cant expect a goal a game, but possession and responsible minutes feel like logical expectations. They shouldnt create a lot of offense, but yoi shouldnt spend the whole game in your end either

 

[All Mod Cons]

Mitch Marner used rather vivid imagery to describe what the Toronto Maple Leafs' new forward additions - Ryan Reaves, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Max Domi - bring to the lineup.

"All three of those guys can play with snot, piss, and vinegar," Marner said Thursday, according to Sportsnet's Luke Fox, before praising new general manager Brad Treliving for the signings.

"So, I think he's done a good job of what he said that he wants to bring in - and he's done it ... (They're) three guys that aren't afraid to get in people's faces and down and dirty, and at the same time bring a lot of pace to our game, can do a lot of things around the net, (and) add a lot of different qualities to your team. "And they all have that grittiness. Obviously, what Ryan does, it's going to make people not really want to get down and dirty too much with our team."

It's actually heart-warming hearing the stars use the same language as the GM. Eventually I think Brad will truly get through to the stars of what it takes for them to win. There is an outside chance that Marner, Tavares, Matthews and/or Nylander get a couple of fighting majors this season.

 

[notbias]

Players love him, coach loves him, former players say he’s making a difference vs dudes with keyboards who can’t skate. Wow, tough call here for me.

Maybe he fades, maybe he becomes a net negative, but so far he’s making the ice dance crew here look silly. Sometimes it’s better to not say anything, I know what a concept. Oh the crippling salary too lol.

Former GMs healthy scratch him... he is not universally thought of as a positive player in the NHL.

Vegas won last year had one of the best 4th lines (maybe the best), and they ditched him.

It's actually heart-warming hearing the stars use the same language as the GM. Eventually I think Brad will truly get through to the stars of what it takes for them to win. There is an outside chance that Marner, Tavares, Matthews and/or Nylander get a couple of fighting majors this season.

How does he know? He's been as far as the last GM who you hate and think is a loser.

 

[LaPlante94]

very weird that that poster would use the goal that Brodie fell over himself at the blueline and Samsonov let in the breakaway as a negative measuring stick for the 4th line. They had possession in the offensive zone ffs. Shit happens but that clearly was not the 4th lines fault. Seems like a biased opinion rather than factual. FWIW I cant tell you how happy Ive been to see a leaf (Reaves) impose his physical will on the opposition. Gregor I like as well. Kampf?...doesnt seem to fit that line but I dont want him on the 3rd line either. Not sure whats gonna happen there.

Gonna have to get used to it I guess. They've been complaining since Reaves got signed and that Jeff guy on twitter has been non stop complaining about him since Game 1 even when they played well.

View attachment 753552View attachment 753553

Who did it wake up?

Leafs dominated the game after that until Samsonov let in that weak Boldy shot. Then the 3rd they took control of the game again and blew them out. This is silly now.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Reaves was handed Lafferty's 4th line job, and he's the one that costs the amount that necessitated the move, not Gregor.

No, Lafferty cannot do Reaves job. Lafferty lost his job to Gregor - they were in competition. Reaves was signed as a free agent with a specific role in mind. Just like Klingburg was.

 

[Menzinger]

So much energy and time spent on arguing over a 4th liner.

He's a fun player to watch, he's got a lot of personality from an entertainment pov, and then looks like he plays the energy player role well.

People also get a bit too extreme praising him for the for team efforts/achievements - Matthews still probably would have scored back to back hattricks without him being there. When the team eventually loses are we going to blame Reeves?

Either way, there's no problem here at least for the time being, we can reevaluate after a few more weeks

 

[Dekes For Days]

No, Lafferty cannot do Reaves job.

Of course he can play 4th line winger. He's done it before, and he can in fact do it better than Reaves. But they decided to sign a worse, older, more expensive player signed until he's 40 and trade Lafferty instead.

 

[DarkKnight]

All this time spent on a guy doing his job on a small cap hit.

 

[Gallagbi]

All this time spent on a guy doing his job on a small cap hit.

We should really get back to our cancer research

 

[Apex Predator]

All this time spent on a guy doing his job on a small cap hit.

It’s a nice break from talking about our core 4 being overpaid lol.

 

[DarkKnight]

We should really get back to our cancer research

Whatever you think that is, it isn’t. Cheers.

 

[Gallagbi]

Whatever you think that is, it isn’t. Cheers.
View attachment 753583

What an adorable video

 

[DarkKnight]

It’s a nice break from talking about our core 4 being overpaid lol.

This is true Lol.

 

[Gallagbi]

Keefe said they were the best line first game, nobody was claiming domination, until we can quantify bad goaltending as evidence of ”caved in”. I’m watching, I haven’t seen it, but I will say Kampf is the signing we should be talking about.

You need to be able to separate goaltending from the line's play. Sammy has no impact on them getting hemmed in their own zone, which is what im referencing when i say they were doninated and caved in.

Gregor's been good, Kampf and Reaves have struggled with their actual play. Overall, the line isnt clicking yet, but hey weve seen some fights and won in spite of that.

 

[DarkKnight]

Sheldon Keefe on Ryan Reaves’ early impact in Toronto: “A lot of confidence, swagger, and consistency… Really impressed so far”​

 

[notbias]

Sheldon Keefe on Ryan Reaves’ early impact in Toronto: “A lot of confidence, swagger, and consistency… Really impressed so far”​

Everyone thinks Keefe is a good coach now?

 

[DarkKnight]

Actually, never mind. Who cares.

 

[thewave]

You need to be able to separate goaltending from the line's play. Sammy has no impact on them getting hemmed in their own zone, which is what im referencing when i say they were doninated and caved in.

Gregor's been good, Kampf and Reaves have struggled with their actual play. Overall, the line isnt clicking yet, but hey weve seen some fights and won in spite of that.

All the lines look awful. Its the most unstructured time of the year. Some players are clicking and some not.

Reaves is delivering what we wanted him to deliver. AM is happy and they so far the team didn't take chit like in the past.

 

[Gabriel426]

51 pages on a 4th liner energy fighter.

He is what he is and he is doing his job.
Reaves is not going to score 20 goals but he will ensure other guys play better.

Maybe it is BT or the message finally got through to the top guys or the new signings, I do see the Leafs play as a unit and don’t take crap from other teams.

Wilds is a big and mean team that despite the Leafs always beating them the past few seasons, they usually dominate us in scrum and stuff.

 

[thewave]

51 pages on a 4th liner energy fighter.

He is what he is and he is doing his job.
Reaves is not going to score 20 goals but he will ensure other guys play better.

Maybe it is BT or the message finally got through to the top guys or the new signings, I do see the Leafs play as a unit and don’t take crap from other teams.

Wilds is a big and mean team that despite the Leafs always beating them the past few seasons, they usually dominate us in scrum and stuff.

How dare you diminish the importance of us getting someone that helps take this assortment of individuals with no character and turning it into a team with character and identity. 50 more pages is warranted.